i NEED an eye this year....

[busler15]

I have never caught a Walleye. I am willing to work as hard as I can to get one in the boat this season. The season is closed from March 15 to the first saturday in may, which is the 5th this year. Tell me, how should I start out this year? more than likely i will be trying very soon after may 5th, so i am looking to get loaded up with some know-hows on catching them.

Where Do I start that time of year?  Depths? Presentations? Bait?

[eyedoktr]

How you fish will depend on the body of water you will be fishing. If you post the lake you plan on attacking, II''m sure people can help you out.

[busler15]

I will be fishing the Indian River Lakes Chain. Any of the small lakes or rivers in jefferson county, ny is an option.

Where do people fish for eyes out of these lakes?

[walleyechaser]

fuzzy grub jigs tipped with your choice of live bait.  Match the weight of the jig to water depth and wind speed.
They rock all year for me but really shine early in the season.

[meandcousinalfy]

Try a wobble jig with a crawler

[Wisc.whitetailer]

in about one week from now we'll be in the best eye fishing of the season. jig head or a Mr. twister tiped with a minnow works good here.

[busler15]

Well, here in NY I cant catch one until may, when it opens the 5th i believe.

How do they bite in may?

[csavage1]

Hey busler 15 get with barry and we will do some fishing in may.I hope the water will warm up in time for a early spawn.

[meandcousinalfy]

Cousinalfy, trade you a day fishing on the yellowstone or maddy for a day chasin eyes?

Sounds good

[Ice Dawg]

One of the best ways to catch walleye in early season that I know of is a plain hook, split shot and a minnow. This will work when nothing else does and I think it will work anywhere that walleyes swim. Just my .02 of course. 

[Chucker]

If you can get up to Rossie, there are usually boats right at the old mill opening day.  I'd suspect a jig tipped with crawler/minner/leech/grub would do well there.

[MasterAngler]

Well some good prestentations have been mentioned but not much on locations.  I am not familiar with these lakes or when ice out and spawning takes place down there.  But by the sound of the lake "Indian River Lakes Chain" there should be some current areas anyways.  So I would first start in the rivers, creeks, etc, or the mouths of them as this is where they will have spawned out.  They can be really shallow in the spring too, so check all depths this time of year.  Start in these areas first.  If you are not having any luck here the walleyes may be starting to move out to the main lake points and reefs, etc, so start searching out strucure areas like that leading to the main lake areas, that drop into 15-30 feet of water.  They may even stay in the river all year depending on the size, but I am unfamiliar with the area.   Good Luck. 

[busler15]

Well, My cousin just caught a 27" walleye last night while we were trolling in 40+' of water. He must have been suspended.

Gives me hope!

[busler15]

Here is a picture. Doubt the cousin will mind too much for me bragging for him!



and here is my lake......

[csavage1]

Nice Job Spence now you and Mr Froome are hooked.